Suriname get back on track in CAZOVA  

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, October 30, 2016: Suriname crushed rank outsiders Turks & Caicos 25-11, 25-12, 25-11 to get back on track in the first round of the CAZOVA zonal qualifying series for the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship tonight at the Anthony Nesty Indoor Sports Hall.

After losing their opening Group B fixture against Jamaica the night before, the hosts won the three most lop-sided sets of the first four matches in 65 minutes.

However the level of competition is expected to be much tougher when Suriname, ranked highest of the four competing teams at No. 4 in CAZOVA, square off against tenth-ranked Guadeloupe in the final match of the tournament tonight.

The top two teams from this straight round-robin competition will advance to the second round from Group B and the winner of this contest will qualify alongside the sixth-ranked Jamaicans.

After their commanding victory, Suriname coach Verdy Getrouw stated: “We knew we were going to win this game. We used it as preparation for tomorrow. It is do or die and we are not planning to lose in our home country”

Captain Antoine Vliet expects a very tough match against Guadeloupe and admitted “it will be a lot of pressure on us, but we will be ready to go.”

After also losing in straight sets against Guadeloupe in the morning session match, the 13th-ranked Turks & Caicos have no chance of advancing.

They face the unbeaten Jamaicans in the first match of tomorrow night’s double header and captain Isaiah Gardiner was very optimistic, boldly stating: “We played better tonight and we got to win one”

Coach Donnovan Garvey is not looking at their two matches as defeats, but “a learning experience” for a team which comprises two players in their 40s, two just a couple years younger and several more over the age of 30.